press_sj_team_competition

ATHENS, 24 August - It seemed like a walk in the park for Germany to win its third consecutive gold in Team Jumping with only two rails down in both rounds.

The German win brought the fifth Gold Medal for Ludger BEERBAUM at his fifth Olympic Games.

The action at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre evolved into a jump off for Silver and Bronze between the USA and Sweden, both at 20 penalty points after two rounds.

Both contenders sent three riders over the shortened course and all stayed clear, but the USA riders were seven seconds ahead, winning with a total of 20 points and 131 seconds in the jump-off.

Thereby the USA claimed its fifth silver medal, leaving bronze for Sweden, the country's Olympic first medal in the event since 1928.

The bright flood light proved to be quite difficult for some horses, especially at the water fence and the "Greek Coins", glittering in silver and gold colours.

Gold - Germany - 8 faults

Silver - USA - 20 faults

Bronze - Sweden - 20 faults

Team Jumping : Comments from the USA (silver), Sweden (bronze) 25 Aug. 2004

ATHENS, 24 August - Comments from the silver medal-winning USA team and bronze medal-winning Sweden team.

Beezie MADDEN (USA) - Team Silver Medallist:

On how she managed to post a clear round going last and carrying all the pressure on her shoulders:

"At that time I didn't know our position so I didn't think about it. I knew that I needed to go clear if we wanted to make it. I was very confident after the warm up. I had a lot of faith in my horse and we made it."

Chris KAPPLER (USA) - Team Silver Medallist:

On how they managed a second round in the same day:

"We have been in Europe since June. We have been working a lot and we were looking forward to the Games. We are surrounded by a great coach and a lot of people who support us. We have done a lot of training for the last few months and sometimes we were riding two and three times a day. When the time came we felt ready."

On the recovery of his horse:

''He jumped very well today. He has recovered 100 percent so far and I hope he will be alright in the future. Today he seemed to handle pretty well."

McLain WARD (USA) - Team Silver Medallist

On whether they had imagined that they would face the Swedish in a jump-off for medals:

''Actually we were hoping to face the Germans for the gold. It was a great day. We just happened to go a bit faster. From my part I'm happy I could contribute also to this success because Beezie (MADDEN) and Peter (WYLDE) were carrying us on their shoulders at the beginning."

Rolf-Goran BENGTSSON (SWE) - Tteam Bronze Medallist

On why he didn't compete in the final jump off:

"We discussed with the Chef d'Equipe and decided that it was impossible to beat the time the Americans had already set. So we came to the conclusion that it was not necessary for me to go. I chose not to compete, even if I had it wouldn't have made any difference to the final result."

Peter ERIKSSON (SWE) - Team Bronze Medallist:

On the horse's form after today's two rounds and jump off:

"We were all aware of the competition schedule a long time ago. We were also prepared to deal with the heat. Actually this format is very nice. Normally we have to complete both rounds with a break of only half an hour between the two. Today it has been a long day for our horses, but they had a few of hours to rest during the day, between rounds."

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FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
OLYMPIC UPDATE 24 AUGUST 20

Third consecutive Team Gold for Germany; USA Silver after Jump-Off; Sweden Bronze

Germany dominated the Team Olympic Jumping competition with only two rails down in both rounds. Multi-medallist Ludger Beerbaum and his faithful Goldfever had a double clear, as did Beerbaum's student Marco Kutscher. It is the 5th gold medal for Ludger Beerbaum who is participating in his 5th Olympic Games, and the 9th team gold medal for Germany.

Late tonight, the action evolved into a jump-off for Silver and Bronze between the USA and Sweden, both at 20 penalty points at the end of the second round.

Both contenders sent three riders over the shortened course and all stayed clear, but the USA riders were seven second ahead to earn the silver. "There was no way I could go fast enough to improve our score" explained Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, who would have been the 4th rider to jump for Sweden, "so, after discussion with my team and coach, I decided not to start in the jump-off."

This is the 5th team medal for the USA, and the 2nd Bronze for Sweden (the first one was in 1928!).

The water fence proved to be quite a challenge for a number of horses, as well as the "Greek Coins" obstacle glittering in silver and gold colours under the bright flood light.

Further to the injury sustained by Bruno Broucqusault's Dileme de Cephe, who went acutely lame on the right forelimb in the arena during the 1st round of the Team competition and the withdrawal of Eric Navet and Dollar du Murier, France could not present a team in the second round, leaving an unexpected starting place for Korea, which finished 9th ahead of Brazil.

Complete results on www.athens2004.com

United States Equestrian Federation

News Release

For Immediate Release August 25, 2004

Olympic Show Jumping Team Final Has A Silver Lining for the USA

US Prevails in a Thrilling Jump-Off

Athens, Greece - It’s official…the USA has found the “silver lining” in what turned out to be a nail-biting, stomach-churning jump-off between the States and the Swedes for the silver and bronze Olympic medals. Germany clinched the gold in the evening’s competition but the Swedes and US were left tied for second at 20 faults each. According to the rules, a jump-off for the silver and bronze would determine the medal standings.

In the four-on-four jump-off, Team USA was up seven-plus seconds with three riders having all posted clear rounds on the shortened (Peter Wylde, McLain Ward and Chris Kappler) course. The Swedes (Peter Ericksson, Peder Frederickson and Malin Baryard) determined that they could not match the US time. The U.S. brings home a sweet Silver medal for their valiant efforts on a night when holding your breath brought on new meaning. The final Team results: Germany – Gold; U.S. – Silver (in a repeat of the 1988 Seoul and 1996 Atlanta Olympics); and a proud Swedish team, the Bronze. It was the first Team medal for Sweden since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. To say it was a thrilling, unforgettable night wouldn’t quite do it justice.

The members of the US Show Jumping Team are Beezie Madden, of Cazenovia, NY; Peter Wylde, a Massachusetts native and a resident of Maastricht, The Netherlands; Chris Kappler, of Pittstown, NJ; and McLain Ward, of Brewster, NY.

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, the U.S. team stood upon the medal stand and had the Silver placed around their collective necks. It was a night of nights at Markopoulo Equestrian Center at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Any fan of equestrian sport would have given their all to be in the audience.

There are 63 entries with the individual riders, not representing a competing Team, go first. A short break was set before the Team medal riders began their efforts, which counted for both the team medal and for their right to move on to the individual competition taking place on Friday.

First up for the States were Peter Wylde and his mare Fein Cera. After posting an uncharacteristic 12 faults in Round 2, he was admittedly disappointed. But this all changed with a Silver Medal at stake in the jump-off.

Wylde was at the in-gate when he realized that there would be no need for a final rider in the jump-off. “One of our helpers had the times [of the various jump-off rounds]. We were adding the times together, wondering if Beezie was going to have to ride. If we were fast enough,” he said. “Just when we were doing that…Hank [a member of the Swedish team] came forward and said, ‘We would like to request for Rolf [the last of the Swedish riders] not to have to ride.’” The considerable lead of the U.S. riders wasn’t worth the risk or danger of sending the final rider out to try to beat that time. This decision was unanimous by the Swedish team.

After another faultless round in the regular competition placing her team in medal contention, Beezie Madden was ready to go into the jump off last when she quickly realized she did not have to go around for a second trip of the night and a wide smile spread across her face. The Team Silver medal was coming home with her and her teammates.

“Well, actually I didn’t know what position we were in until I got to the gate,” said Madden. Basically, to be in a better position, I had to go clear. I have a lot of faith in my horse, who is fantastic. But, [after] the first round, I had no reason to believe he would be any different, especially after warming up. I was fairly confident,” she said. Madden is the only rider in Athens who goes into the Friday Individual Final with no faults.

Speaking on behalf of the team, the night’s third rider in the jump-off, Chris Kappler, of Pittstown, NJ observed, “We’ve been lucky to work together [as a team]…and we’ve been here since June. The four of us have been working together a long time for this, and really looking forward to it. “

From Brewster, New York, McLain Ward was in great spirits after being disappointed with his eight faults aboard his mare, Sapphire, in the round prior to the jump-off. When asked about his feelings in facing the Swedish team for the battle between Silver and Bronze, he quipped, “Well…I’d rather have faced the Germans [for the Gold].”

“As the class progressed, I think we saw it shaping that there was a strong possibility of facing a jump-off,” he continued. “Obviously it was great for Peter and I, but Beezie and Chris had such strong performances, and when we finally did get in the jump-off, I’m glad that Peter and I could contribute so much to the team.”

He “tipped his riding helmet” to the team from Sweden. “It was a great jump-off. The Swedes performed beautifully. We just happened to go a little faster.”

The Individual medal final will be contested on Friday – the last equestrian medal to be awarded at the 2004 Athens Games.

2004 Athens Olympic Show Jumping Final Team Standing:

Gold – Germany – 8 faults

Christian Ahlmann / Coster
Marco Kutscher / Montender
Otto Becker / Cento
Ludger Beerbaum / Goldfever

Silver – USA – 20 faults – 131.09 seconds

Peter Wylde / Fein Cera
McLain Ward / Sapphire
Chris Kappler / Royal Kaliber
Beezie Madden / Authentic

Bronze – Sweden – 20 faults – 138.48 seconds

Peder Frederickson / Magic Bengtsson
Rolf-Goran Bengtsson / Mac Kinley
Peter Eriksson / Cardento
Malin Baryard / Butterfly Flip

For More Information Contact;
Maria Partlow

Athens phone #:693 6733 136

ENDS

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After the first round of the Team Show Jumping the top teams are:

1. Germany - 4
2T. Netherlands - 8
2T. USA - 8
4T. Sweden - 12
4T. Belgium - 12
4T. Switzerland - 12

Two horses bowed tendons in the ring and had to be taken off by horse ambulance: Dileme de Cephe, Bruno Brouqsault (FRA) and Who Knows Lily, Federico Sztyrle (ARG)

Team Jumping : Germany in the Lead after Round One 24 Aug. 2004

ATHENS, 24 August - Defending gold medallist Germany is leading the Team Jumping competition after Round one.

Two clear rounds by multi-medallist Ludger BEERBAUM and his student Marco KUTSCHER saved the lead for the German Team with a score of four penalties.

Ranked equally in second place are the Teams from Netherlands and the USA. The Dutch had one clear round for Gert-Jan BRUGGINK and two riders with four penalties each.

The USA Team has two clear rounds but eight penalty points for McLain WARD. Their big hope, Peter WYLDE, third at the World Championships, had a round with three rails down, making him the Team's likely scratch result.

Top ranked individually is Beezie MADDEN (USA) with AUTHENTIC. She has still a clean score after two qualifiers.

Following with just one penalty are Italian Juan Carlos GARCIA and Ludger BEERBAUM for Germany.

Editor's Note: Ted and I are on our way to Saratoga. The reports of the second round and Medals will be late tonight. Results will be available on www.athens2004.com